JP2580761Y2 - Ball joint - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball joint used for a suspension mechanism, a steering mechanism and the like of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, dust enters a ball joint 30 of this kind between a ball seat 32 disposed in a socket 31 and a ball head 34 of a stud 33. Dust covers 40 and 50 made of a soft synthetic resin or rubber are attached to prevent the occurrence of the dust cover.

First, a dust cover 40 shown in FIG. 4 is of a fitting type to a socket 31, and a central film portion 41 is molded into a bell shape with a mold (not shown) disposed inside.
An annular fitting 44 that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the fastening portion 35 of the socket 31 is integrally formed with the one end opening 42, and the other end opening 4 is formed.
A seal part 45 is formed on the inner periphery of the stud 33 so as to slide on the plate 36 on the outer periphery of the stud 33. The annular fitting 44
Is set larger than the outer diameter of the mold, so that the annular fitting 44 can be easily removed from the mold after molding. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the one end opening 42 of the dust cover 40 is fitted into the socket 31, and the assembly of the ball joint 30 is completed. At this time, the central film portion 41 of the dust cover 40 remains in the shape of a bell at the time of molding. Next, when assembling the ball joint 30 to an automobile, as shown in FIG. 5, the dust cover 40 is compressed in the axial direction of the stud 33 with a knuckle 47, and the other end opening 43 is fitted to the plate 36. Accordingly, the overall height of the dust cover 40 is reduced, and the central film portion 41 expands in a meandering manner and expands in diameter.

[0006] Next, a dust cover 50 shown in FIG. 6 is of a set ring mounting type to the socket 31, a central membrane portion 51 is formed in a bellows shape in advance, and a set ring 54 of another component is formed in one end opening 52. Mounting groove 55 for mounting
Is formed on the inner periphery of the other end opening 53.
A seal portion 56 similar to that of No. 5 is formed. The set ring 54 is attached to the attachment groove 55 after its inner diameter is enlarged by a tool, and after the attachment, the diameter of the set ring 54 is reduced elastically.
On the outer periphery of the fastening portion 35.

[0005]

The dust cover 40 of the former fitting type has an advantage that it can be fastened to the socket 31 by a simple method in which the annular fitting 44 is pushed into the outer periphery of the fastening portion 35 and fitted. On the other hand, there were the following problems. That is, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, when the swing angle θ of the stud 33 with respect to the socket 31 is large, the film length of the central film portion 41 is changed in order to follow the deformation of the dust cover 40. Need to be bigger. Therefore, as described above, after the dust cover 40 is formed into a bell-shaped shape having a large overall height, the dust cover 40 is largely compressed. However, when the dust cover 40 is largely compressed as described above, when the swing angle θ of the stud 33 is large, a part of the central membrane portion 41 is folded deeply inward as shown by a two-dot chain line, and There was a risk of being stuck between 31 and stud 33. Accordingly, in a ball joint having a large swing angle (for example, 24 degrees or more), such a fitting type dust cover 40 has not been established.

On the other hand, in the latter set ring mounting type dust cover 50, since the central film portion 51 is formed in advance in a bellows shape which is advantageous for securing the film length, the dust cover 50 is attached to an automobile like the dust cover 40. There is no need to greatly compress when assembling. For this reason, there is an advantage that there is no concern about the above-mentioned biting, and the above-mentioned condition is satisfied even in a ball joint having a large swing angle. However, since the set ring 54 is a separate part and its installation is also troublesome, there are problems that the number of parts increases, the assembly process becomes complicated, and the cost increases.

An object of the present invention is the problem persists, can set a large swing angle, the number of components, a novel can be simplified and the cost of the assembly process Boruji
It is to provide a Yointo.

[0008]

To achieve SUMMARY OF to the above objects, the present invention has a central film portion is bent for film length securing one end opening is fastened to the fastening portion of the socket periphery, the other end Bolt with dust cover whose opening is fitted around the outside of the stud
In the metal joint , the central film portion of the dust cover is formed in a bellows shape in advance, and an annular metal fitting that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the socket is integrally formed at the one end opening portion. set to be larger to than the maximum inner diameter
And the outer circumference of the socket has an inner diameter of the annular fitting.
The enlarged diameter portion for increasing the outer diameter of the fastening portion corresponding to
Is provided. In addition, the present invention is applied to the central membrane part.
Is curved to secure the film length, and one end opening is the outer periphery of the socket
And the other end opening is externally fitted to the outer periphery of the stud.
Ball joint with dust cover
The central membrane portion of the dust cover in a bellows shape in advance.
Molded, and the thick part near the one end opening is the outer periphery of the socket
An annular metal fitting that can be fitted to the
Is set larger than the maximum inner diameter of the central membrane part.
The outer periphery of the socket corresponds to the inner diameter of the thick portion.
An enlarged diameter portion is provided to increase the outer diameter of the fastening portion.
And features.

[0009]

In the ball joint of the present invention, since the central film portion of the dust cover is formed in advance into a bellows shape which is advantageous for securing the film length, the dust cover is largely compressed when assembled to an automobile, and the central film portion is compressed. There is no need to increase the diameter of the part in a meandering manner. For this reason, even if the swing angle of the stud is large, there is no fear that a part of the central membrane portion is caught between the socket and the stud.
The swing angle can be set large . Further, since an annular metal fitting that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the socket is integrally formed at one end opening of the dust cover (or a thick part in the vicinity thereof) , the annular metal fitting is pressed into the outer periphery of the fastening portion and fitted. Can be fastened to the socket in a simple manner. Although the central film portion is formed by placing the mold bellows therein, an annular metal fitting (or thick portion)
Is set larger than the maximum inner diameter of the central membrane,
After molding, the annular fitting (or thick part) is inserted into this mold (especially,
(The part forming the maximum inner diameter). In addition, an annular bracket (or thick wall)
To increase the outer diameter of the fastening part corresponding to the inner diameter of
A bellows-shaped central part of the dust cover is provided because the enlarged diameter part is provided.
Shape can be set large.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a ball joint embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a ball joint , 2 denotes a socket, and a flange 3 as an enlarged diameter portion is integrally provided on an outer periphery thereof. A fastening portion 4 of a dust cover is provided on an upper half of the flange 3. Notch is formed. Thus, the flange 3
The reason why the outer diameter of the fastening portion 4 is increased by providing the fastening portion 4 is to cope with the fact that the inner diameter of the annular metal fitting is set to be large as described later. Reference numeral 5 denotes a housing chamber recessed from the upper surface of the socket 2, and reference numeral 6 denotes a synthetic resin ball seat provided in the housing chamber 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a stud, and a shaft 8 and
A ball head 9 which is irremovably inserted into the accommodation room 5 and slidably contacts the ball seat 6. Reference numeral 10 denotes a flange-shaped plate fixed to the outer periphery of the shaft portion 8 of the stud 7.

[0011] Now, the dust cover 20 of this embodiment is a mating type to the socket 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the central film portion 21 is formed in advance in the bellows, in the vicinity of the one end opening 22 An annular fitting 24 that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the fastening portion 4 is integrally formed with the thick portion 26, and a seal portion 25 that slides on the plate 10 is formed on the inner periphery of the other end opening 23. The inner diameter B of the annular metal fitting 24 and the thick part 26 is set to be larger than the maximum inner diameter A of the central membrane part 21. Accordingly, after the central film portion 21 is formed by disposing the bellows-shaped mold 11 therein, the annular metal fitting 24 and the thick portion 26 are separated from the mold 11 (particularly, the portion forming the maximum inner diameter A). Can be easily pulled out. Also, a ring around the outer periphery of the socket 2
Of the fastening part 4 corresponding to the inner diameter of the metal fitting 24 and the thick part 26.
Since the flange 3 for increasing the outer diameter is projected,
The bellows shape of the central membrane part 21 of the strike cover 20 is set large.
is made of. Further, the inner peripheral edge of the annular metal fitting 24 before fitting is formed so that the thin metal plate is bent obliquely upward, and the inner diameter B of the annular metal fitting 24 is set slightly smaller than the outer diameter C of the fastening portion 4 shown in FIG. Therefore, after the fitting, the inner peripheral edge of the annular metal fitting 24 is further warped to tighten the outer periphery of the fastening portion 4.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the one end opening 22 of the dust cover 20 is fitted to the fastening portion 4 of the socket 2 , and the assembly of the ball joint 1 is completed. At this time, the other end opening 23 of the dust cover 20 is located immediately above the plate 10. Next, when assembling the ball joint 1 to an automobile, the dust cover 20 is pressed downward with a knuckle 12 as shown in FIG.
The other end opening 23 is fitted on the plate 10. At this time,
Although the overall height of the dust cover 20 is slightly reduced, the diameter of the central membrane portion 21 that has been formed in a bellows shape in advance does not increase. For this reason,
Even if the swing angle of the stud 7 is large, there is no fear that a part of the central membrane portion 21 is caught between the socket 2 and the stud 7, so that the ball joint 1 has a large swing angle.
I can . In addition, the vicinity of one end opening 22 of the dust cover 20
Since the annular metal fitting 24 is integrally formed with the thick portion 26 of
The annular metal fitting 24 can be fastened to the socket 2 by a simple method of being pushed into and fitted to the outer periphery of the fastening portion 4.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, but can be arbitrarily changed and embodied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0014]

[Effect of the Invention] Since the ball joint of the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to set a large swing angle, reduce the number of parts, simplify the assembly process, and reduce costs. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a dust cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a ball joint to which the dust cover is attached is mounted on an automobile.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dust cover after molding.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a ball joint to which the dust cover is attached.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a ball joint provided with a conventional dust cover.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view when the ball joint is mounted on an automobile.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a ball joint provided with another conventional dust cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball joint 2 Socket 3 Flange as an enlarged diameter part 4 Fastening part 7 Stud 8 Shaft part 10 Plate 20 Dust cover 21 Central membrane part 22 One end opening 23 Other end opening 24 Annular metal fitting 25 Seal part 26 Thick part A maximum inner diameter B ring fittings and thickness of the central membrane portion
Inner diameter of meat

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A body provided with a dust cover having a central membrane portion curved to secure a membrane length, one end opening portion being fastened to a fastening portion on the outer periphery of the socket, and the other end opening portion being fitted around the outer periphery of the stud.
In the metal joint , the central film portion of the dust cover is formed in a bellows shape in advance, and an annular metal fitting that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the socket is integrally formed at the one end opening portion. set to be larger to than the maximum inner diameter
And the outer circumference of the socket has an inner diameter of the annular fitting.
The enlarged diameter portion for increasing the outer diameter of the fastening portion corresponding to
Ball joint, characterized in that the provided. 2. A central membrane portion is curved to secure a membrane length.
The end opening is fastened to the fastening part on the outer periphery of the socket, and the other end is opened.
With a dust cover whose part is fitted around the outer periphery of the stud
At the center of the dust cover
The membrane portion is formed in a bellows shape in advance, and the thickness near the opening at one end is formed.
An annular metal fitting that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the socket is integrally molded on the meat part
The inner diameter of the thick part is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the central membrane part.
The thickness of the socket
To increase the outer diameter of the fastening part corresponding to the inner diameter of the part
A ball joint characterized by having an enlarged diameter portion.